As each new year begins, most of us choose to follow the same old routine of making resolutions. Many have lofty aspirations that they will very likely not obtain, while others purposefully choose things that they know they will be able to keep, yet they lack any real plan or hardly a prayer for long term reform or improvement in their life. But millions upon millions of these promises often fall apart before even a few months pass by. So, if we constantly have difficulty keeping these good intentions, why create them in the first place? Why not put our efforts into prayer before making any of these resolutions?

Our Efforts Are in Vain When We Don’t Turn Them to God

As a child of God, instead of trying to accomplish something that we are not going to follow through on, we need to turn our efforts over to Someone who is fully capable. God is more than able to meet our needs and change our life, if we will ask of Him, and yield to Him. Rather than agonizing over our efforts to overcome a particular habit or condition, we are more effective when we turn it all over to the Lord in prayer instead.

Here are a few suggestions for changes we could ask God to perform in our heart:

• Help me to keep from seeking and accepting rumors or hearsay, and from finding fault with those around me.
• Lead me to that place where I bring all my choices and direction before You first, rather than relying on my own understanding and common sense.
• Keep me from the things that will disgrace Your Name through disobedience to Your laws and Word.
• May I have foremost in my mind and heart that I must decrease as I allow You to increase. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20).
• May one of my greatest desires be to do that which pleases You the most.
• Help me to learn and move forward in You so that I never sink into a rut.
• Increase my desire to lead others away from a relationship with this sinful world to one with You.
• Give me wisdom to properly manage all You have given me, and may I never give glory to myself for what You have done in my life.

Make it Your Prayer to Seek God First Before Your Needs

Let’s make every year one where we seek the face of God more than just try to improve our own life. May we long for more of the blessed hope of the return of Jesus for us, His bride. May our hearts also yearn to be more like Him, free from any sinful desire that could keep us away from His presence. And may God help us turn this year’s breakable resolutions into unbreakable requests to our Heavenly Father, who is able to “supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19)!

[Additional image credits: Featured image (when available) by Mohamed Hassan on Pixabay; Opening photo by Freestocks.org on Pexels]